The Minister of Health, Firas Al-Hawari, confirmed Saturday during his participation in Roya's Nabd Al-Balad program, that the coronavirus curve is flattening, indicating that the Friday lockdown and the extension of night curfew hours contributed to reducing the infection transmission.

Upon discussions with hospitals in the Kingdom, the minister said that COVID-19 patient admissions are decreasing, noting that hospital officials stated that they have begun feeling an ease in admissions.

"This is a good indicator."

Additionally, Hawari explained that in two weeks, COVID-19 deaths will begin to decrease, noting that the current wave is 30 percent more severe than the previous one.

He said that the treatment protocol for coronavirus patients is regularly analyzed and updated, adding "we do not want to repeat what happened in the [re]opening of sectors after the first wave."

Hawari indicated that the reopening of the sectors will be studied and upon reopening, it will be on a gradual basis in order to maintain the epidemic situation.

The minister stressed that all decisions taken by the government are made to deal with the virus according to scientific studies.

He pointed out that if the government had not restricted measures, the rate of coronavirus infections would have risen by about 250 percent.

Upon discussing vaccines, Hawari said that a single dose of the Pfizer vaccine constitutes immunity of up to 80 percent, indicating that this was the reason for postponement of the second dose for a period of six weeks from the date of receiving the first dose.

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The Kingdom will continue using the AstraZeneca vaccine, he stressed, adding that no decision has been taken to halt the use of the jab so far.

He explained that reports of bloodclots detected in AstraZeneca vaccine recipients in countries of the world is "very, very small."